​I’m the kind of person that is so lazy that I plan ahead to make time before a busy day to be lazy. No kidding. I will wake up at 5:30 in the morning just so I can have a couple of hours to watch some Netflix, scroll through social media, and eat a nice big breakfast before heading out to my nine a.m. class. I will wake up at 2 in the morning, and all I can think about is “I cannot wait to wake up and have some nice almond butter and jelly toast.” First, I hate being rushed in the morning. Second, I freaking love breakfast food (at least once or twice a week I make breakfast for dinner). While some might think this is odd, this is my trick to having a great day. When I am rushed in the morning, I am in the worst mood and the day is just not pleasant. But when I have the time to wake up my mind and fuel my body before the rest of the world gets moving, my day is much more productive and enjoyable. Here are my favorite healthy, filling, and enjoyable breakfast foods.

1.) Toast

So simple, I know. But this is probably what I eat the most. As you know, I keep a gluten free diet, but I have found THE BEST bread. I toast two slices of Udi’s Millet and Chia Ancient Grains bread. Then, I usually have one of two toppings: avocado and cream cheese or nut butter and jam. Lately, I have been using natural Almond Butter and a strawberry jam sweetened with honey and topped with chia seeds.

2.) Eggs and Potatoes

More traditional, this breakfast is extremely filling, and I would definitely recommend adding a fresh fruit or veggie to this. I roast the potatoes the night before, or I will buy frozen hash browns to heat before cooking the eggs. I prefer scrambled eggs (sunny side up makes me uber uncomfortable). But this is a dish you can personalize however you want.

3.) Granola

This spring I was on a huge granola kick. Being gluten free, I don’t often have cereal, mostly due to lack of tasty options, but granola became a great substitution. My favorite brands are Purely Elizabeth, Kind, and Bob’s Red Mill. Be sure to find an option with low sugar. My favorite is to add in chia seeds and blueberries. Another option is to make Chia Seed Pudding and top that with fruit and granola. ​

4.) Pancakes

Honestly, this list could go on and on. I love *almost* any and every breakfast food. I’ve been using Birch Bender’s gluten free pancake mix, because, I’m lazy and don’t want to spend my lazy time baking from scratch. I often mix in protein powder and blueberries to add more excitement to my life. And then, of course, I top the pancakes with PURE maple syrup. I cannot stress this enough, do not buy fake syrup. While even pure maple syrup has a LOT of sugar, at the very least, it is completely natural and is so much better for you. Pancakes are great when paired with a healthy Orange Julius green smoothie or fresh pressed juice.

5.) Smoothie

When I’m in a hurry (which isn’t very often) or when I am making an early morning three hour drive to my parent’s house, I’ll whip up a tasty smoothie to keep me going until lunch. The key to a good smoothie is balancing your macros and nutrients. You want to make sure it contains low or no added sugar, high protein, high fat, veggies, and fruit if you want it sweet. Here’s a base recipe, where you can switch up added fruits or flavors to your liking.

If you’re in a breakfast rut, try one of these ideas! And mix it up! Make it your own. Add your own favorite toppings and have fun. I wholeheartedly believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The way you start the day paves the way for the rest of your day. Start the day healthy, and I promise it will be much easier to maintain that mindset throughout the day.​